Dual channel tie lock

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose cable tie lock has a body with two channels passing through it. Within each channel is a pawl or other device that allows for one-way motion and locking of a strap passing through the channel. The channels may be parallel or anti-parallel in relation to one another regarding the direction through which a tie strap may move. The locking head may also be rotatable about its center in order to change the orientation of the two channels relative to one another. The multipurpose cable tie lock may include three or more channels optionally. Multipurpose cable tied locks may be used in combination with one or more tie straps to provide systems for holding multiple objects.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGAPPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OFTHE MATERIAL

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Endeavor

The present invention relates to systems and methods for locking andinterconnecting cable ties. More particularly, the invention relates tocable tie locks for common zip ties that allows for adjustment and reuseof both the locks and the zip ties and further provides methods forinterlinking multiple zip ties.

Background Information

Flexible ties for use in bundling elongated members such as wires,cables, etc. are well known. Typically, such ties include an elongatedflexible tie strap made of suitable material. The tie usually has a freeend (tail) and a locking head at the opposite end. The tie strap isflexible; the free end (tail) is capable of being looped 270 degreesaround back toward itself and inserted into the locking head after whichthe diameter of the loop formed by the tie strap can be adjusted to fitin the desired manner over the intended bundle. A normal entry tie headis a tie head wherein the insertion of the tie strap into the lockinghead and then its extension through the locking head is generallynormal, perpendicular, or oblique to the tie strap, while the tie strapis in an unfastened, or generally planar orientation.

Cable ties are typically single use devices. When adjustment isrequired, the cable tie is snipped off and discarded and a new cable tieis used. In addition, the amount of cable tie required for any givenproject is often significantly less than the amount of zip tie lengthpresent in a standard zip tie. The additional length is often in the wayof other objects and unsightly. Thus, it is often cut off and thrownaway.

Several cable ties have been designed that provide for unlocking the tiehead such that the tie strap may be removed from the head. These designsinvariably result in a weaker head having a lock capable of withstandinglesser forces than a simpler locking head that may not be adjusted toallow re-versing direction of the tie strap.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need to provide a cable lock systemthat minimizes waste of materials and simplifies adjustments of theties.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is amultipurpose cable tie lock that allows use and reuse of otherwisewasted materials. In addition, the multipurpose cable tie locks of theinvention increase the utility and functionality of standard cable ties.

In greater detail, the locking head portion of a typical cable tie isprovided but without attachment to a typical tie strap. The locking headmay be permanently or removably attached to a second tie head to providea multipurpose cable tie lock. The lock may be laterally symmetric.Optionally, several Lochhead mechanisms may be combined together to formthree or more locks in a single system.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a reading of the attached specification andappended claims. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the moreimportant features of the invention in order that the detaileddescription thereof that follows may be better understood, and in orderthat the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.There are features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a cable tie of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a cable tie of the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cable tie of the prior art;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a multipurpose cable tie lock inaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a multipurpose cable tie lock havinga tie strap and securing objects in accordance with the principles ofthe invention;

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of a multipurpose cable tie lockused in conjunction with a cable tie of the prior art in accordance withthe principles of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of a system of multipurpose cabletie locks in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a system of multipurpose cable tie locks inaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a system of multipurpose cable tie locks andaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of amultipurpose cable tie lock in accordance with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative embodiment of amultipurpose cable tie lock in FIG. 10 in accordance with the principlesof the invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of adual channel tie lock in accordance with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of adual channel tie lock in accordance with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of adual channel tie lock in accordance with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 15 is a front view of a matrix of dual channel tie locks andaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channeltie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a top view of the alternative embodiment of a dual channeltie lock shown in FIG. 16 in accordance with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the alternative embodiment of a dual channeltie lock shown in FIG. 16 in accordance with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 19 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tielock in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 20 is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channeltie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 21 is a front view of alternative embodiments of a dual channel tielock connected in tandem in accordance with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 22 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channeltie lock and a tied lock spacer in accordance with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 23 is a front view of a series of alternative embodiments of dualchannel tie locks connected side-by-side in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 24 is a front view of a series of alternative embodiments of dualchannel tie locks connected side-by-side in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a ziptie in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 26 is a front view of an another alternative embodiment of a ziptie in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 27 is a top view of a zip tie head lock ring in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 28 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a cable tie strapin accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 29 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channeltie lock in accordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 30 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channeltie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 31 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a dual channeltie lock in accordance with the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and to the arrangements of the componentsset forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.The drawings are intended to show the characteristics of the presentinvention and are not necessarily made to scale. The invention iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out invarious ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein are for the purpose of description andshould not be regarded as limiting.

The present invention discloses improvements related to cable ties, alsoknown as zip ties. A zip tie usually includes a long cable or strip anda locking head and a mechanism for engaging these two components thatonly allows sliding movement in a single direction. The locking headgenerally includes a pawl inside a channel which may engage slots orteeth along the tie strap. These mechanisms are well known by those ofordinary skill in the art had need not be discussed in any lengthherein.

FIGS. 1-3 show a type of cable tie often referred to as a zip tie 10that is typical of the prior art. The zip tie 10 includes a locking head12 and an elongate tie strap 14. The tie strap 14 may include a seriesof slots 24. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the slots 24may optionally be teeth, holes or other mechanisms commonly used on thetie strap of a zip tie.

The locking head 12 may include a body 15 that may typically beparallelepiped in shape. The body may be defined by an entry face 25 anexit face 23 and a peripheral wall 21, which may extend around the body15 of the locking head 12 between the entry face 25 and the exit face23. A channel 20 may extend through the body 15 from an entry port 17 onthe entry face 25 to the exit port 16 on the exit face 23. The channel20 typically includes a pawl 22 on one side and an abutment wall 19opposite the pawl 22. The portion of the body 15 between the abutmentwall 19 and the peripheral wall 21 is an abutment buttress region 18.

In use, the tie strap 14 forms a loop 26 by inserting it into the entryport 17 on the entry face 25 and through the channel 20 of the lockinghead 12. The slots 24 engage the pawl 22 and the tie strap 14 protrudesoutward through the exit port 16 on the exit face 23. The loop 26 may betightened to securely retain cables or other objects. The use of a pawl22 or similar mechanism provides for movement of the tie strap 14through the locking head 12 in a single direction 27.

The tie strap 14 may extend some distance from the locking head 12. Thisprotruded region 28 may extends a substantial difference and get in theway of other objects or devices. Often, the protruded region 28 isclipped at location 25 for both practical and as aesthetic reasons. As aresult, the protruded region 28 is wasted and is often thrown away. Thezip tie 10 may thus be used to wrap around and tightly restrained one ormore objects. If one or more of the objects is removed, the loop 26 maybe shrunk by pulling more of tie strap 14 through the locking head 12.However, it is not possible to add more objects such as cables into theloop 26 because it may not be expanded.

The abutment buttress region 18 may typically be a relatively thickregion of the body 15. This strengthens the abutment wall 19, therebystrengthening the one-way locking of the tie strap 14 within the head12. The loop 26 may on occasion be subjected to substantial forcepulling the tie strap 14 in the opposite direction. By buttressing theabutment wall, the locking mechanism within the locking head 12 may becapable of withstanding substantial force.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a multipurpose cable tie lock 30 inaccordance with the principles of the invention. The multipurpose cabletie lock 30 may include a body 31 having an entry wall 34, and exit wall(not shown) and peripheral wall 32. Two channels 36 and 37 may extendthrough the body 31. Each of the channels 36 may have an abutment wall33 and an abutment buttress region 35 between the abutment wall 33 andthe peripheral wall 32. These channels 36 may each also include a pawlor other mechanism for providing locking and one-way transition throughthe channels 36 and 37 opposite the abutment walls 33. In thisembodiment, the body 31 is latterly symmetric about a groove 38. Thegroove 38 may optionally run across the entire surface, including theentry face 34, peripheral wall 32 and exit face, not shown.

FIG. 5 shows a multipurpose cable tie lock 30 in use with a tie strap40. It may be seen here that the channels 36 and 37 include a pluralityof small pawls or teeth 43 for engaging the teeth 44 on the tie strap40. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this is an alternativemechanism commonly used with cable ties or zip ties. The tie strap 14may be the unused protruding region of a tie strap such as item 28 inFIG. 3 after having been cut at location 25, thereby forming rough end42. Optionally, the tie strap 40 may be formed without a locking headfor use with a multipurpose cable tie lock 30.

The rough end 42 may be first inserted into the channel 36 in thedirection of arrow 39 such that the rough end 42 may be substantiallyflush with the exit face 49. The front or smooth and 50 of the tie strap40 may then be inserted through the channel 37 in the direction of arrow47, thereby forming a loop 41 that may be used to securely hold togethera plurality of cords or other objects 45. The smooth end 50 may bepulled so that the strap 40 and loop 41 are sufficiently tight.Optionally, all or a portion of the tie strap 40 protruding outward fromthe exit face 49 of the lock 30 may be clipped and removed for both asaesthetic and practical reasons. The multipurpose cable tie lock 30 thusallows an otherwise unused, wasted portion of a cable tie such as region28 of FIG. 3 to be used and not wasted.

If an operator wishes to disengage the strap 40 from the lock 30, he orshe may clipped the strap 40 at the point where it enters the channel36. The strap 40 may then be pulled all the way through channel 37 whilethe relatively small portion of the strap within the channel 36 may besimilarly pushed through and discarded. As a result, only a very smallportion of the strap may be wasted. The remaining portion of the strap40 and the lock 30 may be reengaged to secure the cords or other objects45 plus additional objects, or may be used to secure completelydifferent items. In this embodiment, channels 36 and 37 operate in thesame direction.

FIGS. 6 shows a multipurpose cable tie lock 52 in accordance with theprinciples of the invention. Here, a common cable zip tie 10 of theprior art has formed its loop 26 by running tie strap 14 through lockinghead 12. Loop 26 secures and restrains objects 54. The protruding region28 of tie strap 14 has been inserted into a first channel 60 of themultipurpose lock 52, which allows sliding of a tie strap in thedirection of arrow 62. The tie strap 14 may then form a second loop 56about objects 58 and then be inserted into a second channels 64 thatallows sliding in the direction of arrow 66. Thus, multipurpose cablelock 52 differs from multipurpose cable lock 30 in that the two channelsprovide sliding in opposite directions. The distal end 68 of the tiestrap 14 may be cut at the point where it protrudes from the secondchannels 64 or may be used with another multipurpose cable tie lock tosecure additional objects.

FIG. 7 demonstrates how a multipurpose cable tie lock 30 may be used inconjunction with a multipurpose cable tie lock 71 with a tie strap 70 inorder to accomplish the same functionality as the system shown in FIG.6. Multipurpose cable tie lock 71 operates the same as multipurposecable tie lock 52. That is, its channels 73 and 75 provide sliding inopposite directions, and each uses a pawl mechanism. Multipurpose cabletie lock 71 includes another functionality. Rotation joint 78 may allowrotation around the center of the multipurpose cable tie lock. Therotation joint 78 may optionally include a locking mechanism such thatonce the channels 73 and 75 are in a preferred orientation, the cabletie lock 71 may be locked into place to hold the two channels in theirorientation to one another. Thus, while FIG. 7 shows the lock 71 withchannels 71 and 73 pointed in opposite directions, it may be rotatedsuch that they have the same direction, oriented the same as thechannels of multipurpose cable tie lock 30.

FIG. 8 shows a system of multipurpose cable tied locks 89. To cable tielocks 30 used in succession with a tie strap 90. The cable locks 30allow two objects 88 to be held together tightly without actually beingin contact. It may be desirable to keep objects 88 from being in directcontact. Optionally, the configuration shown in FIG. 8 may result fromusing the tie strap 90 and a first cable lock 30 to restrain a singleobject by forming a loop 92. At a later point in time, it may bedesirable to attach a second object 88 adjacent to the first object. Inthis situation, no additional tie straps are required. An operator maysimply use a second multipurpose cable tie lock 32 to form a second loop94 and add the second object 88 to the system.

FIG. 9 shows to cable lock systems 89 that have been combined togetherusing another multipurpose cable tie lock 95. In this embodiments, toseparate cable lock systems 89 may be secured to one another using amulti-purpose cable tie lock 95 to connect the tie straps 90.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of a multipurpose cable tie lock100. The cable tie lock 100 has a body 102 having a front face 104, aperipheral wall 108 and a rear face not shown. The multipurpose cabletie lock 100 may also include three channels 106. The inclusion of athird channel further broadens the uses and advantages of themultipurpose cable tie lock 100.

FIG. 11 shows another alternative embodiment of a multipurpose cable tielock 110. Multipurpose cable tie lock 110 includes a body 112 having afirst channel 114 and two channels 116. The two channels 116 areparallel to each other while the first channel 114 is anti-parallel tothe channels 116. The multipurpose cable tied lock 110 may also includea ridge 120 that may be formed to allow easy separation of sections 122and 124 along the channel 120. It may be desirable in some cases tosplit a multipurpose cable tie lock into separate components.

FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock 130in accordance with the principles of the invention. In this embodiments,the dual channel tie lock 130 may include two channels 130, each havinga pawl 138. The channels 130 extend from the entry face 136 to the exitface 134. Zip tie straps engaging the dual channel tie lock 130 may runparallel to each other.

FIG. 13 shows an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock 140in accordance with the principles of the invention. Dual channel tielock 140 may have anti-parallel channels 144, each containing a pawl148. The anti-parallel channels 144 extend from a first face 142 to asecond face 146. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that zip tiestraps may engage the channels 144 opposite to one another and invertedrelative to one another.

FIG. 14 shows another alternative embodiment of a dual channel zip tielock 150 in accordance with the principles of the invention. Twochannels 154 may be parallel but inverted relative to one another andmay extend from entry face 158 to exit face 152. FIGS. 12-14 areexemplary of some optional configurations that a dual channel tie lockin accordance with the principles of the invention may include.

FIG. 15 shows a grid or matrix 160 formed from several dual channel tielocks 162 in accordance with the principles of the invention. The dualchannel tie locks 162 may be connected by vertical next 164 andhorizontal 166. Optionally, the next 164 and 166 may be brokenrelatively easily by bending and or twisting them. A matrix 160 may beadvantageous for providing several dual channel tie locks 162 in aconfiguration that may be easy and convenient to store prior to use.Optionally, a matrix 160 may be beneficial for configuring a pluralityof cords, cables or other devices in close proximity to one another. Forexample, if three cables are intended to run parallel to one anotherover a distance, one cable may be attached to the dual channel tie locksof row 161, another cable may be attached to the tie locks of row 163,and a third cable may be attached to the tie locks of row 165. Thehorizontal necks 166 may then be broken while the vertical necks 164 arekept intact. This may result in four groups of three parallel tie locks162 which may then be spread apart while keeping cables properlyoriented relative to one another.

FIG. 16 shows an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock 170in accordance with the principles of the invention. The dual channel tielock 170 may have two channels 174 housed within a body 172. The topface 176 of the tie lock 170 may include a tab 182 configured to slideand/or snap into a socket such as socket 180 on the bottom face 178 ofthe tie lock 170. Dual channel tie locks 170 may be connected into twoor more tandem tie locks 170.

FIGS. 17-18 show a circular tab 182 on the top surface 176 and a roundsocket 180 on the bottom face 178. Circular tab 182 may be inserted intoand engage with the socket 180 by pushing the tab 182 through socketentrance 181. When the tab 182 is snapped into the socket 180, it mayallow two tandem tie locks 170 to rotate relative to one another along avertical axis.

FIGS. 19-20 show alternative embodiments of a tab and socket inaccordance with the principles of the invention. A top face 184 mayinclude a trapezoidal tab 186 which may taper downward from its top tothe top face 184. A bottom face 188 may include a socket 190 that tapersinward as it progresses toward the bottom face 188. The tab 186 may beinserted into the socket 190 by pushing it through socket entrance 194.Two shoulders 192 hold the tab 186 securely in place within the socket190.

FIG. 21 shows to dual channel tie locks 170 connected to one anotherusing the tab 182 and the socket 180. Additional tie locks 170 may becoupled to either of the shown tie locks. This may allow an operator toattach several dual channel tie locks together in tandem.

FIG. 22 shows a dual channel tie lock 170 and a spacer 200 andaccordance with the principles of the invention. The spacer may includea body 202 having a desired length. The spacer 200 may include a tab 206corresponding to a socket 180 and a socket 204 corresponding to a tabsuch as 182. A spacer 200 may be used to adjust the distance between twoor more tie locks.

FIG. 23 shows an alternative embodiment of dual channel tie locks to 210in accordance with principles of the invention. Each tie lock to 210 mayinclude a tab 212 and a socket 214. The tab 212 and the socket 214 mayhave configurations similar to those shown in FIGS. 17-20. Tie locks 210may be snap together side-by-side rather than top to bottom as shown inFIG. 21.

FIG. 24 shows a plurality of alternative embodiments of dual channel tielocks 220 and accordance with the principles of the invention. Each tielock 220 may include a tab 222 configured to engage with a socket 224or, optionally, a socket 226. Similarly, tabs 226 may be configured toengage with sockets to 228 and/or sockets to 224. This embodiment may beused to configure dual channel tie locks in a plurality of differentways.

FIG. 25 shows an alternative embodiment of a zip tie 230 configured tointeract with dual head tie locks similar to those shown in FIGS. 16-24in accordance with the principles of the invention. A zip tie 230 mayfeatures similar to those of the zip ties shown in FIGS. 1-3. The ziptie 230 may include a lock head 232 and a strap 234. The lock head 232may include a channel 236 having a pawl 238. The top in 235 of the lockhead 232 may include a socket 240 configured to engage with a tabsimilar to those shown in FIGS. 16-24.

FIG. 26 shows another alternative embodiment of a zip tie 250 configuredto interact with dual head tie locks similar to those shown in FIGS.16-24 in accordance with the principles of the invention. The zip tie250 may include a lock head 252 and a strap 254. The zip tie 250 mayinclude a channel 256 having a pawl 258. The top 255 of the lock head252 may include a tab 260 configured to engage sockets such as thoseshown in FIGS. 16-24. Both tab 260 and socket 240 may be round andconfigured to allow rotation or may optionally be designed to engage atool head lock rigidly to prevent rotation.

FIG. 27 shows a lock head ring 270 comprised of a plurality of lockheads 272 forming an annular ring. Each of the lock heads 272 includes achannel 274. The channels 274 may be configured parallel to each othersuch that straps enter the channels 274 from the exterior of the ringand enter the center 278 of the ring when they exit the lock heads 272.Optionally, the channels 274 may be configured in an opposite mannersuch that straps inter-the lockets 272 from the center 278. Optionally,the channels 274 may alternate between parallel and anti-parallelconfigurations sequentially about the ring 270. Necks 276 may connectadjacent lock heads 272. The necks 276 may be designed to easily breakor may optionally may be designed to disconnect and reconnect.

FIG. 28 shows an alternative embodiment of a tie strap 300 having anelongate cylindrical and flexible body 302. Annular flanges 304 may beevenly spaced along the longitudinal length of the body 302. Flanges 304may include a flat side 306 that may be substantially planar andsubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 302.Flanges 304 may extend completely or partially about the body 302.

FIG. 29 shows an alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock 310having a body 312, two cylindrical channels 316, a socket 318 and a tab320. In this embodiment, each of the two channels 316 includes twodiametrically opposed pawls 314. Dual channel tie lock 310 may includemany of the same functionalities of other exemplary dual channel tielocks shown in the previous drawings. Dual channel tie lock 310 may beconfigured to engage a tie strap such as the one shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 shows another alternative embodiment of a dual channel tie lock330 configured to engage a tie strap such as the one shown in FIG. 28.Dual channel tie lock 330 may include a first body 332 having acylindrical channel 336 and a second body 334 having a cylindricalchannel 338. Both channels 336 and 338 may include one or more pawls 340that engage a tie strap fed through it. Body 332 may include a tab 348and a socket 350. Similarly, body 334 may include a tab 344 and a socket346. In this embodiment, the bodies 332 and 334 may be connected at ajoint 342. The joint 342 may be a rotating joint that may allow thebodies 332 and 334 to be rotated relative to each other. Optionally, thejoint 342 may allow the bodies 332 and 334 to be disconnected andreconnected to one another.

FIG. 31 shows an alternative embodiment of a tie lock 400 and accordancewith the principles of the invention. Tie lock 400 includes a dualchannel tie lock 404 having to symmetrical components 408 and 406. A ziptie strip 410 has a tapered in 412 that may be flexed around and fed into a channel in component 406. The zip tie strip 410 also has a flatstop plate 414. The strip 410 passes through a channel within component408 and the stop plate 414 abut component 408. The stop plate 414prevents the dual channel tie lock 404 from sliding off the zip tiesstrip 410. Component 408 of the dual channel tie lock 404 may only movealong the strip 410 in the direction shown by arrow 416. It may bedesirable to provide dual channel tie locks and the configuration shownin FIG. 31 to facilitate easy manipulation of a tie lock mechanism and azip tie strip.

It may also be desirable to package and organize dual channel tie locksand zip tie straps and cartridges that may be used in conjunction with azip tie gun.

Whereas, the present invention has been described in relation to thedrawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and furthermodifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be madewithin the spirit and scope of this invention. Descriptions of theembodiments shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting ordefining the ordinary and plain meanings of the terms of the claimsunless such is explicitly indicated.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

1.-3. (canceled)
 4. A cable tie lock comprising; a parallelepiped bodydefined by a first face, a peripheral wall and a second face; twochannels each extending from the first face to the second face throughthe body; wherein each channel includes a pawl and an abutment wallopposite the pawl; wherein the pawl in each channel limits motion of acable tie through the channel to one direction only.
 5. The cable tielock of claim 4 wherein the channels both allow a cable tie to travel inthe same direction.
 6. The cable tie lock of claim 4 wherein eachchannel allows a cable tie to travel through it only in a directionopposite to the other channel.
 7. The cable tie lock of claim 4 furthercomprising a cable tie extending from the peripheral wall.
 8. The cabletie lock of claim 4 further comprising a third channel having a pawl andan abutment wall opposite the pawl.
 9. The cable tie lock of claim 4wherein the body is comprised of two modules, each module having one ofthe channels.
 10. The cable tie lock of claim 9 wherein the modules maybe rotated relative to each other.
 11. The cable tie lock of claim 9wherein the modules may be separated into two separate single channeltie locks.
 12. The cable tie lock of claim 11 wherein the modules may bere-attached.
 13. The cable tie lock of claim 12 wherein the modules maybe reattached in only one orientation relative to each other.
 14. Thecable tie lock of claim 4 wherein the peripheral wall comprises fourwalls, wherein one wall includes a tab and an opposing wall includes asocket capable of removably engaging a tab on a second cable tie lock.15. A system of cable tie locks comprising a plurality of cable tiedlocks each having: a parallelepiped body defined by a first face, aperipheral wall and a second face; and, two channels each extending fromthe first face to the second face through the body; wherein each channelincludes a pawl and an abutment wall opposite the pawl; wherein the pawlin each channel limits motion of a cable tie through the channel to onedirection only; wherein the peripheral wall comprises four walls,wherein one wall includes a tab and an opposing wall includes a socket;and, wherein a tab on one cable tie lock removably engages a tab on asecond cable tie lock.
 16. The system of cable tie locks of claim 15wherein two removably engaged cable tie locks are rotatable relative toeach other.
 17. The system of cable tie locks of claim 15 wherein tworemovably engaged tie locks are not rotatable relative to each other.18. The system of cable tie locks of claim 15 wherein two removablyengaged tie locks have channels perpendicular to each other.
 16. Thesystem of cable tie locks of claim 14 wherein two removably engaged tielocks have channels parallel to each other.